Yellowfin Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis neglecta Heckel, 1837

Scientific name: Scorpaenopsis neglecta
Yellowfin Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis neglecta Click to enlarge image
A Yellowfin Scorpionfish at a depth of 3 m, Camp Cove Beach, Watsons Bay, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, March 2013. Image: Denise Kuijlaars
© Denise Kuijlaars

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Scorpaenopsis
    Species
    neglecta
    Family
    Scorpaenidae
    Order
    Scorpaeniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 19 cm in length.

Introduction

Yellowfin Scorpionfish is a benthic species that occurs in tropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific region.

Distribution

In Australia it occurs from the north-west shelf of Western Australia. The presence of an individual in Sydney Harbour (see image above) was unexpected.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & Kailola, P.J. 1984. Trawled Fishes of Southern Indonesia and Northwest Australia. Jakarta : Dir. Gen. Fish. (Indonesia), German Tech. Coop., Aust. Dev. Ass. Bur. Pp. 406.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.